Method of recovering earth components from wells



Jan. 4, 1938. M. H. KTZEBUE METHOD OF RECOVERING EARTH COMPONENTS FROMWELLS Filed July 11, 1936 JNVENTOR M.H.K0Tz EBUE.

A TTORNEY Patented Jan. 4, 1938 METHOD OF RECOVERING EARTH COM- PONENTSFROM WELLS Meinhard H. Kotzebue, Tulsa, -Okla.l

Application July 11,

13 Claims.

This invention relates to a method for the recovering or extraction ofearth components from wells and an object of the present-invention isthe provision of such a method the primary purpose of which is theeconomical operation of gas and oil Wells so that only such fractions orcomponents for which there is an immediate profitable market demand or anecessary use will be produced, leaving in the producing zone suchfractions or components for which there isk no immediate practical orprofitable use, but which may become useful in future years through de`components as are not of immediate use. The broad idea of the presentinvention is similar to that of my co-pending application, Serial#53,141.

At the present time in practically all petroleum producing locations,there is a demand for fractions or earth components having a boilingpoint of 100 Fahrenheit or higher, such as pentanes, hexanes, or heavierhydrocarbons, whereas the lighter components such as butanes, propanes,

and ethanes can not be economically produced at present. Likewise, thereis a limited use for methane and other fuel gases, such use beingcontrolled by the provision of piping or gas line connections to a placeof domestic or industrial consumption or by the relatively smallconsumption of such gases on the producing grounds for the operation ofengines, boilers and for use of individuals living on the lease, so thatordinarily such gases can not or are not produced Without wastage.

With the employment of the method of the present invention, on wellswith a bottom hole pressure in excess of 600 pounds, it is possible toproduce or extract from the well only the fractions necessary in themanufacture of gasoline, kerosene, gas oil and fuel oil, leaving thebutanes, propanes and ethanes in the producing area, and only bring tothe surface such meth- 55 anes or other fuel gases as are dissolved inthe leaving in the earth for future use, such otherl 1936, Serial N0.90,224

(Cl. 16S-21) combined absorption liquids and the fractions or earthcomponents withdrawn from the well, parts of which fuel gases arereturned to the well without the use of compressors or analogousmechanisms. I

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a methodof extracting selected earth components from a well which will make theoperation of high pressure wells simple and safe by balancing oi most ofthe pressure in the casing and tubing of the Well; a method which willpermit of a very large production being handled through a relativelysmall distillation unit, and will render unnecessary much of the usualequipment in the present day approved type of gasoline plant.

With these and other objects in view, as may appear from theaccompanying specificatiomthe invention consists of various features ofconstruction and combination of parts for carrying out the improvedmethod of extracting or recovering selected earth components from aWell, which will be rst described in connection with the accompanyingdrawing showing a diagram' matic illustration of a well and theapparatus on the surface employed in carrying out the improved methodand the features forming the invention will be specifically pointed outin the claims. 1

Referring more particularly to the drawing, a well of approved type isshown in which thel casing l is sunk into the ground and may be packedor sealed in the usual approved method as shown at 2L The casing I has ascreen 3 on its lower end and it has the usual approved type of head- Ion its upper end. A pipe 5 extends downwardly through the casing l andthrough the screen 3 and opens out near the bottom of the screen. Thispipe 5 is connected by suitable piping 6 with a pump 1 of any approvedconstruction, which pump pumps an absorption `liquid downwardly throughthe pipe 5 and out of its lower end into the producing area indicated atA in the drawing.

The absorption liquid may be any approved type of absorption liquids orabsorption oils which are now on the market, such as a natural gas oilof from approximately '7 pound to 7.7 pound weight per gallon, which oilhas an afnity for various earth components. For instance, if it `isdesired to extract from the producing area A, the earth components foruse in making gasoline such as those ranging from pentane to octane, theabsorption oil will be a natural gas oil as above specified which isforced into the well at the proper pressure and temperature to cause itto pickup or absorb the pentanes, hexanes or heavier hydro-carbons.

The absorption oil passes out of the pipe 5 through the bottom thereofinto the producing sand or area at substantially a weight of 7 poundsper gallon, and travels in a vseries of paths as indicated by the arrowsB, passing upwardly through producing sands or area and picking up thedesired earth components, as it moves upwardly through the producingsands. The absorption oil at the weight of substantially 7 pounds ismuch heavier than the' components which it picks up, and it enters theproducing area at a predetermined temperature which is controlled in themanner hereinafter specified. As the absorption oil under thepredetermined pressure and temperature picks up the various earthcomponents, -its weight decreases and its temperature increases until atthe point where it enters the casing I of the well its weight will besubstantially 2.2 pounds per gallon in a well with approximately 3000pounds bottom hole pressure, as has been proven by actual tests of theweight of the'fused absorption oil and earth components taken from thetop of the well, and also checked by weight of the fluid columns, whichis the diierence between the bottom hole and surface pressure using acorrection for temperature. 'I'he absorption oil passingin the paths ofthe arrows B decreasing in weight by volume and increasing intemperature as it passes upwardly through'the producing area, willfractionate 01T the lighter components and continue to absorb theheavier fractions, equilibrium of vapor pressure being maintained at alltimes. In this wav the very light weight components such as butane andpropane are expelled, but a small amount of methane by weight remains inthe mixture. 'I'he absorption oil as it entersV ailinity'for the heavierfractions as it`continues to contact the mixture in the sand it picks upmore of the heavier fractions and throws oi the lighter earthcomponents, which will set up, in effect, eddies or recycles of theselighter earth components such as indicated byarrows C, leaving theselight earth components in the producing area. This action is also helpedby the fact that the heat of absorption continues to raise thetemperature of the mixture. The longer the path of the absorption oilthrough the producing area, the greater the percentage of earthcomponents picked up will be, as for instance the absorption oil passingthrough lthe shortest paths will be AB plus 5 per cent, while throughthe second path it will be substantially AB plus 40 per cent and throughthe longest path substantiallyAB plus 80 per cent.

The absorption oil and the earth components picked up thereby are takenfrom the casing I through suitable piping 1 into a separator 8 ofapproved construction in which any of the lighter gases, such as ethaneand methane, will be separated from the absorption oil and the desiredearth components. 'I'he separated gaseous hydro-carbons will pass out ofthe separator-8 through a suitable outlet 9 from which they may be takento any source of use or they may be returned to the well if desired.

The absorption oil and the heavier components, such as pentane, hexane,etc., are taken from the separator 8 through suitable piping I0, passthrough a heat exchanger II into a preheater I2. In the pre-heater thecombined absorption liquid and earth components are heated to thedesired or necessary temperature, and they are taken from the pre-heaterI2 through -piping I3 into an evaporator Il of any approvedconstruction. In the evaporator I4 the absorption oil, being the heaviercomponent, is separated from the extracted earth componentsand theselatter are taken off through the pipe I5 and delivered to a condenser I6where they are condensed, nally passing through the accumulator tank l1.From the accumulator tank II the net production from the well ismeasured and may then be delivered to a re-run still.

The denuded absorption liquid is taken from the bottom or lower part ofthe evaporator I4 and through a piping I8 to and through'the heatexchanger Il. -The heat exchanger II is of the usual approved type ofheat exchanger which may be purchased upon the open market, and theabsorption oil passing therethrough from-the evaporator, gives up someof its heat to the combined absorption oil and earth components whichare passing therethrough from the separator I to the preheater I2,thereby resulting in a savings of heat and reducing the quantity of fuelnecessary in the pre-heater to bring the combined absorption oil andearth components to the proper temperature, and it also serves forreducing the temperature of the -absorption oil and consequentlyreducing the size of the chiller or cooling apparatus I 9. The pump Iwhich is of any approved type receives the absorption oil from. the heatexchanger and this pump is v selected so as to put the proper pressureon the absorption oil which is delivered to the well through the pipe 5,while the temperature of such absorption oil is regulated or controlledto the desired points by means of the chiller Il which is showninterposed in the pipe connection I between the pump I and the well pipe5. If it is so desired or found practical, the einher Il may beeliminated. .A iioat mechanism'of any approved type is shown at 20 andit is operated by the level of the absorption liquid in the evaporator14. The oat control-mechanism 2l of any conventionaltype is connected inany suitable approved manner for controlling the operation of the pump 1If the quantity of absorption liquid is reduced beyond a practicalpoint, a make up supply of the absorption liquid may be added to theline at any desired point, preferably' in the evaporator Il.

While in the foregoing description an absorp` absorption oil, the earthcomponents 'extracted from the producing area may be controlled. It iscovered from theproducing area A, while the a specific gravity greaterthan the specic gravity other earth components are left in the producingarea for future use.

Also the present invention is practical for the extraction of heliumfrom wells, since it has been proven by experiment that a gas oilabsorption oil of predetermined temperature and pressure will have anainity for helium, and 4will absorb the helium which may be extractedfrom the absorption oil in the `manner heretofore described.

The fact that the absorption oil is heavier than the fused absorptionoil and earth components which it absorbs, causes, together with thepressure at the bottom of the well, this mixture or fusion of absorptionoil and earth components, to rise through the producing area asindicated by the arrows B 4in the drawing and also rise to the top ofthe well.

The present method embraces the forcing into the well and out from thebottom of the well into the producing area a quantity of absorption oilsufficient to fill the producing area adjacent to the well and block offthe direct passage of gases to the well, thereby eliminating the passageof gases through the well except only such minute quantities as areabsorbed by the absorption liquid.

If it is so desired, suitable hand controlled y valves as indicated at2|, 22 and 23 may be provided ior controlling the flow of the liquidsthrough the pipes 6 and 'I respectively.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to thespecific construction or arrangement of parts shown but that they may bewidely modied within the invention defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In the art of oil wells, the method of recovering selected gaseous orliquid earth components which includes, circulating an absorption liquidhaving a specific gravity greater than the specic gravity of thecomponents to be recovered in and out of a well and through theproducing strata and removing from the producing strata the ascertainedcomponents having an affinity for and absorbed by said absorptionliquid, and leaving other components in'the producing area. 1

2. In the art of oil wells, the method of recovering selected gaseous orliquid earth components which includes, circulating an absorption liquidhaving a specific gravity greater than the specic gravity of thecomponents to be recovered in and out of a well and through theproducing strata and removing from the producing strata the ascertainedcomponents having an affinity for and absorbed by said absorptionliquid, leaving other components in the producing area, then separatingthe ascertained components from the absorption liquid, and recirculatingthe absorption liquid through the well and producing strata.

3. IIn the art of Wells, the method of recovering selected gaseous orliquid earth components which includes circulating an absorption liquidhaving a specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of theselected components to be recovered,

. through the bottom of a well and up through the producing strata intothe well at a point above the bottom of the well, removing from the wellthe absorbing liquid and the absorbed earth components, and separatingthe absorption liquidl and the absorbed earth components.

4. In the art of wells, the method of recovering selected gaseous orliquid earth components which includes circulating an absorption liquidhaving of the selected components to be recovered, through the bottom ofa well and up through the producing strata into the well at a pointabove the bottom of the well, removing from the well the absorbingliquid and the absorbed earth components, separating the absorptionliquid and earth components, and recirculating the absorption liquidthrough the well and producing strata.

5. In the art of wells, the method of recovering selected gaseous orliquid earth components which includes circulating an absorption liquidwhich has an aiinity only for the selected components through a well andout at the bottom of `the well and up through the producing strata intothe well at a point above the bottom of the well removing the absorptionliquid and the absorbed earth components from the well and separatingthe absorption liquid and absorbed earth components.

6. In the art of Wells, the method of recovering selected gaseous orliquid earth components which includes circulating an absorption liquidthrough a well and out at the bottom of the well and up through theproducing strata into the well at a point above the bottom of the well,

then separating the selected earth components which were absorbed fromthe absorption liquid, and recirculating the absorption liquid throughthe well and producing strata.

7. In the art of wells, the method of recovering selected gaseous orliquid earth components which includes circulating an absorption liquidhaving a specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of theselected components to be recovered, through the bottom of a well and upthrough the producing strata into the well at a point above the bottomof the well, removing from the well the absorbing liquid and theabsorbed components, separating the absorption liquid and earthcomponents, cooling the absorption liquid and recirculating the cooledabsorption liquid through the well and producing strata.

8. In the art oi wells, the method of recovering selected gaseous orliquid earth components which includes, forcing an absorption liquidhaving a speoic gravity greater than the speciiic gravity of thecomponents to be recovered and having an afnity for the components to berecovered, downwardly through the well and out into the producing areain a quantity suicent to ll the producing area adjacent to the well andblock off the direct passage of gases to the well, withdrawing theabsorption liquid and absorbed earth components from the producing 9. Inthe art of oil wells, the method of recovering selected gaseous orliquid earth components which includes, circulating an absorption liquidhaving a specific gravity greaterthan the specic gravity of thecomponents to be recovered in and out of a well and. through theproducing strata and removing from the producing strata the ascertainedcomponents having an ainity for and absorbed by said absorption liquid,separating the absorption liquid and the absorbed components byevaporation and recirculating the denuded absorption liquid through thewell and producing strata.

10. In the art of wells, the method of recovering selected gaseous orliquid earth components which includes circulating an absorption liquidhaving a molecular weight greater than the molecular weight ofthe-selected components to be4 recovered through a Well and out of thebottom of the well and up through the producing strata into the well ata point above the bottom of the well, denuding the absorption liquid ofthe absorbed components, increasing the pressure on the denudedabsorption'liquid, cooling the denuded absorption liquid and'recirculating the cooled absorption liquid through the wel] andproducing strata. l

11. In the art of wells, the method of recovering selected gaseous orliquid earth components which includes circulating an absorption liquidhaving a molecular Weight greater than the molecular weight of theselected components .to be recovered downwardly through a well and upthrough the producing strata into the well at a point above the outletof the absorption liquid into the producing strata, separating theabsorption liquid and the absorbed earth components, increasing thepressure on the separated absorption liquid, and recirculating theabsorption liquid through the well and producing strata.

12. In the art of wells, the method of recovering selected gaseous orliquid earth components which includes circulating an absorption liquidhaving a weight by volume of substantially three times the weight of theearth components to be extracted through a well andthe producing strata,removing from the well the absorption liquid and the selected absorbedearth components, separating the absorption liquid and earth components,and recirculating the absorption liquid through the well and producingstrata.

13. In the art of wells, the method of recoveringselected gaseous orliquid earth components which includes circulating an absorptionr liquidhaving a molecular weight greater than the molecular weight of theselected componentsrto be recovered through a well and the producingstrata, varyingthe temperature and the rate of circulation of thecirculated absorption liquid to controlthe earth components absorbed,removing from the well the absorption liquid and the absorbed earthcomponents, separating the absorption liquid and the earth components,and recirculating the absorption liquid through the welland producingstrata.

' -MEINHARD H. KO'IZEBUE.

